US3930135A - Switch with an indicating mechanism - Google Patents

Switch with an indicating mechanism Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US3930135A
US3930135A US371073A US37107373A US3930135A US 3930135 A US3930135 A US 3930135A US 371073 A US371073 A US 371073A US 37107373 A US37107373 A US 37107373A US 3930135 A US3930135 A US 3930135A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
switch
indicating
indicating mechanism
set forth
inclined surface
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US371073A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Yasuo Kodaira
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to DE19732333577 priority Critical patent/DE2333577C3/de
Publication of USB371073I5 publication Critical patent/USB371073I5/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3930135A publication Critical patent/US3930135A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
    • H01H9/16—Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off"

Definitions

  • SWITCH WITH AN INDICATING MECHANISM This invention relates to a switch with an indicating mechanism, and more specifically to a switch with an tions, respectively, to appear or disappear from the upper surface of the switch actuator.
  • the switches conditions may be indicated by the inclined position of the handle or button thereof, means or by with a lamp utilizing illumination therefrom to recognize and indicate the changeover conditions of the switch.
  • There there are some disadvantages such as installation of expensive lamp, or breaking of the lamp during operation of the switch with the result of possible operators mistake. Further, specially designed mechanism and conductors, etc., are also needed for installation of the lamp, and the necessity of installing these components increases the difficulty of minituarization of the switch assembly.
  • a lamp is not used, and instead an indicating movable member is provided in connection with the switch actuator, and the movable member is made to appear or disappear from within said switch actuator and each of the changeover conditions of the switch is readily determined depending on the appearance or disappearance of the movable member.
  • this invention provides an indication of the switch condition by purely mechanical movement of the movable member, it does not permit as compared with the prior art switch utilizing an indicator lamp, possibility of malindication of the condition of the switch or mistake as to the condition of the switch by an operator caused by a break of the lamp filament, and also it is simple in construction and has an advantage of being cheap and small. Further, in comparison with the prior art switch actuators, this invention is capable of indicating more clearly the changeover conditions of the switch by providing the movable member with features as by changing the color of the upper end of the indicating movable member into red color.
  • FIG. 1 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of an embodiment of the switch provided with an indicating mechanism in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 2a is a plan view of the lower half part of the switch shown in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 2b is a perspective view showing an alternative embodiment of making the inclined surfaces of the case detachable in the switch in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the major portion of the switch shown in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the switch in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 5a and FIG. 5b are schematic front elevational views showing each of the ON-OFF indicating conditions of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 6a and FIG. 6b are schematic front elevational views showing each of the ON-OFF indicating conditions of the embodiment shown in FIG. 4.
  • FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the switch in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing another modification of theindicating movable member in the switch in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 9a is a partial sectional view showing another modification of the switch actuator and indicating movable member in the switch in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 9b is an exploded, fragmentary, perspective view of the switch actuator and indicating movable member shown in FIG. 90.
  • FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing still another embodiment of-the switch in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 11 is a schematic view showing another modification of the contacts in the switch in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 12 is a sectional view showing a further embodiment of the switch in accordance with the present invention.
  • FIG. 1 showing one embodiment of the present invention
  • 1 is a switch case
  • 2 is a cover cap
  • 3 is a sleeve provided with external threads
  • 4 is a handle or switch actuator.
  • the handle 4 is restrained against upward movement out of sleeve 3 by'its central bulb means 5 (see FIG. 3) and is mounted to be inclined to and fro about this bulb means within the sleeve.
  • a collar 6 is formed on the lower portion of the handle 4 and a changeover member 7 is upwardly and downwardly slidably filled thereunder.
  • the changeover member 7 is formed in an elongated rectangular shape as shown in FIG. 3 and holes extending upwardly through the changeover member are provided at the front and rear parts of the lower surface of the changeover member, and slide members 9 are inserted into these holes through springs 8. That is to say, this switch has two sets of contacts.
  • the slide members 9 are slidably mounted on the upper surfaces of the movable contact plates 10, and the latter are pivotally mounted on a receiving member 11.
  • Fixed contacts 12 are securely fitted on the bottom surface of the case 1 in confronting relationship with lower surfaces of the plates 10 and both the right and left side terminal pins 13 projecting from lower surface of the case 1 are connected with the receiving members, respectively.
  • a longitudinal narrow channel 15 extending longitudinally through the handle 4 is provided within the handle 4 and an elongated rodshaped indicating movable member 16 is inserted therein.
  • the lower end of the movable member 16 is formed in semisphere shape 17 and a spring 19 is inserted between the upper surface of the shape 17 and a central recess 18 of the changeover member 7 (see FIG. 1).
  • Inclined surfaces 20 (see FIGS. 1 and 2a) rising from the bottom surface of the case 1 are formed inside the case 1 and there is provided a lowest line 21 at the position suitably shifted left from the central crossing line of both inclined surfaces.
  • the changeover member 7 is always biased upward by the spring 8 into contact with the collar 6 and the movable member 16 is in the condition such that the upper surface of the lower semi-sphere shape 17 is pressed down by the spring 19 from the lower surface of the recess of said changeover member 7 into abutting engagement with the inclined surfaces 20.
  • the spring 19 is usually made substantially weaker than the springs8. Therefore, even if the handle 4 is inclined leftward and the lower end of the movable member 16 is in the, right hand high position in the inclined surface 20, the handle 4 is kept stabilized at this position.
  • the switch may be made into a so-called momentary switch of self-returning type by installing a strong spring 19 and making the inclination of the surface 20 steep. Releasing the finger from the handle permits the handle to return to its original position.
  • the switch when the switch is the type having three switch positions such as left-neutral-right, i.e., ON-OFF-ON, the lowest line 21 of the inclined surfaces 20 may be set in the center between the right and left sides of the surfaces, and the movable member 16 may be extended out of the handle 4 when it is in the right and left ON positions and may be withdrawn into the handle when it is in the central OFF position.
  • another block 20 a having inclined surface 20 at its upper surface, as shown in FIG. 2b may be provided and detachably inserted into the bottom surface of the case la. This allows other blocks having any one of the desired inclined surfaces to be installed.
  • FIG. 4 shows an actuator button 22 in which the present invention may be incorporated in the switch. Also in this case, a longitudinal hole extends through the button similar to hole described above, except the hole in the button 22 is rectangular in shape, and an indicating movable member 23 is slidably inserted into the hole. Short studs 24 are fixed integrally or separately in the center of the front and rear surfaces of the button 22 in order to pivotally support it against the movable member. Projection 25 may be formed integrally with and downwardly from the undersurface of the button 22 and it may serve in the same manner as described above except that the changeover member 7 shown in FIG. 1 and the projection 25 are made to be slidably mounted.
  • the lower end of the movable member 23 includes an expanded portion similar to the hemispherical portion 17 shown in FIG. 1 except that it is rectangular shaped and a spring similar to the spring 19 is provided for pressing down this expanded portion against the inclined surface, and downward directed shoulder portion is formed near the lower end of the central through hole for receiving the upper end of this spring.
  • spring 19 instead of providing spring 19 around the movable member as shown in FIG.
  • the lower end of the movable member 23 may be projected toward front and rear only and thereafter a spring having small diameter may be provided on the upper surface of each projected member. Still further, instead of employing a rectangular shaped movable member 23, a circular shaped movable member may be installed. Conditions when the button 22 is inclined toward left and right, respectively, are shown in FIGS. 6a and 612. Also, in this case, it may be easily determined whether the switch is in the ON or OFF condition by the conditions of appear or disappear of the upper end of the movable member in relation to the button 22.
  • FIG. 7 shows an embodiment in which inclined surfaces 20 are provided in the inner surfaces of the front and rear walls of the case 1 instead of immediately below the handle 4. Therefore, a small bar 27 is projected forwardly and rearwardly from a cylindrical enlarged portion 26 formed at the lower end of the movable member 16 and the forward and rearward ends of the bar are mounted on the inclined surfaces 20.
  • a slide member 9 is mounted directly at the lower end of the handle 4. Hence there is only one set of contacts 12-10-12 within the case.
  • Slots 28 are formed at the lower forward and rearward portions of the handle 4 for inserting the small bar 27 thereinto, and downward directed shoulder portion 29 is provided in the lower midway portion of the through hole 15 in order to receive the upper end of the spring 19.
  • a downward directed shoulder portion 30 is provided in the inner surface of the lower end of the handle 4 and the upper end of the spring 8 is received by this shoulder portion.
  • a spring 8 such as tapered coil spring having larger diameter upper turn than that of lower turn.
  • a circular bottom plate may be inserted into the shoulder portion 30 and a coil spring having an ordinary shape may be received by the circular bottom plate.
  • FIGS. 9a and 9b are views showing major portions of still another embodiment of the switch in accordance with the present invention, wherein the switch actuator has removable parts at its upper part, in other words, the switch actuator body 4 and the head 4a thereof are separately formed and mounted.
  • Collar 6 is formed on the upper part of the indicating movable member 16 and a spring 19 is inserted between said collar 6 and shoulder portion 4a provided in approximately the central part of the head 4a of the switch actuator.
  • a suitably colored cap 16a is inserted into the end of the indicating movable member 16.
  • the cap 16a is detachably mounted in the indicating movable member 16 and may be replaced by other caps of red or blue color.
  • FIG. 10 there is shown still another embodiment of the switch in accordance with the present invention.
  • the end of the indicating movable member is made to be visible or concealed, not by providing a specifically designed inclined surface in the center of the switch body, but by changing the type of the movable contact plate and utilizing rightward and leftward inclinations thereof.
  • the movable contact plate 10 is inclined up toward right.
  • FIG. 1 1 shows still another embodiment of the switch in accordance with the present invention.
  • the difference between this embodiment and the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 is in that the movable contact plate is conventional type and either one of the fixed contact points is higher than the other contact.
  • right side contact point 12a is higher than the left side contact point 12.
  • FIG. 12 shows an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a slide type switch.
  • slider 46 of the switch actuator is slidable along the opening provided in the cover cap 44 mounted over the switch body 40.
  • Indicating movable member 47 is inserted into the slider 46 through spring 48 and the lower end of the member is made to be slid along the upwardly inclined surface 42 rising within the switch body 40.
  • the movable member 47 is moved up and down in accordance with the sliding movement of the slider 46, and when the slider 46 is in the position shown or rightmost position, the upper end of the movable member 47 is projected out of the slider 46, and when the slider 46 is in the leftmost position, the upper end thereof is made to be concealed in the slider 46.
  • an indicating mechanism comprising:
  • an actuating member having a longitudinally extending bore
  • a movable indicating member slidably received in said bore; i a switch case including at least one inclined surface formed in the switch case,
  • a spring located at the lower end of said movable indicating member, urging the lower end of said member to make contact with and move along said inclined surface;
  • the upper end of the indicating member is made to be selectively visible or concealed by extending out of or being recessed within the upper surface of the actuator in accordance with the operating position of said actuating member.

Landscapes

  • Indicating Measured Values (AREA)
  • Tumbler Switches (AREA)
  • Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)
  • Push-Button Switches (AREA)
US371073A 1972-12-29 1973-06-18 Switch with an indicating mechanism Expired - Lifetime US3930135A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19732333577 DE2333577C3 (de) 1972-12-29 1973-07-02 Schalter mit einem verschiebbaren oder um eine Achse schwenkbaren Betätigungsteil, der verschiebbar einen auf einer geneigten Fläche des Schalters gleitenden Anzeigeteil aufnimmt

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1973000263U JPS546850Y2 (xx) 1972-12-29 1972-12-29

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
USB371073I5 USB371073I5 (xx) 1975-01-28
US3930135A true US3930135A (en) 1975-12-30

Family

ID=11469012

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US371073A Expired - Lifetime US3930135A (en) 1972-12-29 1973-06-18 Switch with an indicating mechanism

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US3930135A (xx)
JP (1) JPS546850Y2 (xx)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4063055A (en) * 1975-04-16 1977-12-13 Shigeo Ohashi Switch with an on-off indicating mechanism
US4321442A (en) * 1979-10-19 1982-03-23 Nihon Kaiheiki Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Small-sized switch with indicator
GB2308496A (en) * 1995-12-18 1997-06-25 Defond Mfg Ltd Electrical switch
CN105895438A (zh) * 2014-10-16 2016-08-24 浙江西屋电气股份有限公司 一种隔离开关识别器

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2292408A (en) * 1937-12-01 1942-08-11 Raytheon Mfg Co Lighter
US2367382A (en) * 1942-07-07 1945-01-16 Chase Shawmut Co Circuit breaker
US3538285A (en) * 1967-12-15 1970-11-03 Telemecanique Electrique Rocker control for circuit breaker with indication of position
US3619533A (en) * 1970-05-15 1971-11-09 Gen Electric Contactor with tip wear indicator
US3729607A (en) * 1971-06-23 1973-04-24 Ellenberger & Poensgen Pushbutton reset circuit breaker having peripheral contact condition indicator means

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2292408A (en) * 1937-12-01 1942-08-11 Raytheon Mfg Co Lighter
US2367382A (en) * 1942-07-07 1945-01-16 Chase Shawmut Co Circuit breaker
US3538285A (en) * 1967-12-15 1970-11-03 Telemecanique Electrique Rocker control for circuit breaker with indication of position
US3619533A (en) * 1970-05-15 1971-11-09 Gen Electric Contactor with tip wear indicator
US3729607A (en) * 1971-06-23 1973-04-24 Ellenberger & Poensgen Pushbutton reset circuit breaker having peripheral contact condition indicator means

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4063055A (en) * 1975-04-16 1977-12-13 Shigeo Ohashi Switch with an on-off indicating mechanism
US4321442A (en) * 1979-10-19 1982-03-23 Nihon Kaiheiki Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Small-sized switch with indicator
GB2308496A (en) * 1995-12-18 1997-06-25 Defond Mfg Ltd Electrical switch
GB2308496B (en) * 1995-12-18 1998-04-08 Defond Mfg Ltd Electrical switch
US5810109A (en) * 1995-12-18 1998-09-22 Defond Manufacturing Limited Electrical switch
CN105895438A (zh) * 2014-10-16 2016-08-24 浙江西屋电气股份有限公司 一种隔离开关识别器

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS49103972U (xx) 1974-09-06
JPS546850Y2 (xx) 1979-03-31
USB371073I5 (xx) 1975-01-28

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US5430261A (en) Switch assembly including sequential switch rocker/lever operating mechanism
US3867596A (en) Alternate make-break pushbutton switch assembly with detent means, indicator and indicator slide switch structure
US4458124A (en) Multicolor illuminated toggle switch
JP6297521B2 (ja) スイッチ装置
US6646211B2 (en) Switch
US4383155A (en) Pivoted-actuator switch with PC board switched light indicator
US3930135A (en) Switch with an indicating mechanism
US6777633B2 (en) Switch device
US4453152A (en) Sewing machine control
US4694130A (en) Illuminated pushbutton switch with unitary spring and contact
US3711669A (en) Switch having a shock-proof lighted toggle switch
US5721405A (en) Tactile feedback mechanism for a multidirectional switch
US3491220A (en) Lighted on-off switch
CA1289177C (en) Push-button switch
US4757164A (en) Pushbutton switch
EP0821381B1 (en) Lever switch
US5796057A (en) Rocker-type electrical switch
US2469274A (en) Electrical switch
US3334201A (en) Steering column switch assembly having additional switch means for light dimming andthe like
US4920243A (en) Push button switch device with illuminating means
EP0011413A1 (en) Switch
GB2099222A (en) Switch for motor vehicle dashboards
WO1995015000A1 (en) Multiple position manual switch
US3602663A (en) Combined snap and wipe acting switch
KR100348432B1 (ko) 차량용 누름 작동형 스위치